Funeral services for Frank will be on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie with the Bro. LaMon Brown officiating.  Burial will follow with military honors at Bayou Rouge Baptist Cemetery in Evergreen, LA.

Frank Nelson Thompson of Bunkie, LA passed away on February 11, 2011 at Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette, LA. He was 87 years old.  Frank was born April 25, 1923 in Greenville, AL.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 ½ years, Phyllis Maxine Dunbar Thompson; his parents, Rosa Jane Nelson Thompson and Samuel Erskin Thompson of Greenville, AL; his brother, Ernest Kendrick Thompson; and sisters, Georgia Janette Thompson Turner, and Dorothy Jane Thompson Boler.

Frank was a World War II Veteran having joined the U.S. Army on February 19, 1943.  He proudly served the 483^rd Anti Automatic Weapons Battalion, Headquarters Battery with duties at bases along the California coast before heading to Hawaii, Ulithi, Anguar in the Palau Islands, Guam and on to Iwo Jima.  He left Iwo Jima November 22, 1945 heading first to Saipan, then to California and on to Camp Shelby, MS where he was honorably discharged at 10:45 a.m. on December 31, 1945.

Frank began working for AT&T on August 15, 1941.  After completing his military service, he continued working for AT&T.  His work eventually brought him to Bunkie, LA where he met Maxine and they were married in First Baptist Church on September 12, 1947.  They spent many years traveling and working across the southern states before settling back in Bunkie where he retired after 40 ½ years.

Frank was a member of First Baptist Church of Bunkie.  He was a member of Grand Lodge of LA.F. & A.M., Bunkie Lodge #326 having served as Grandmaster and District Deputy Grand Master of 9^th Masonic District of LA.  He was a Shriner, Member of York Rite Keystone Chapter #44.  He was also a member of Telephone Pioneers of America.

He loved watching and reading about all sports, and had a great memory for detail.  He could tell us stories of his past, citing the days, dates and even time of day.

Frank is survived by his two daughters; Dianne Z. Durrett and husband David G. of Brandon, MS, and Jane T. Webb and husband Billy W. of Lafayette, LA.

Spending time with his family brought great joy to his life.  He was PawPaw to 5 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.  His grandchildren are:  Rebecca D. Pope and husband Steve of Pearl, MS, David K. Durrett of Canton, GA, William N. Webb and wife Casie T. of Lafayette, LA, Kevin B. Webb and wife Shannon B. of Youngsville, LA, and Jason B. Webb and wife Jessica D. of Lafayette, LA.  His great-grandchildren are:  Callie and Lauren Pope of Pearl, MS, Nicholas, Seth, Jacob and Jaynie Rose Webb of Lafayette, LA, Blake and Hayden Butler of New Brunswick, Canada, Avery Lege and Addison Webb of Youngsville, LA, and Ethan Webb of Lafayette, LA.

Pawpaw was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.  His children and grandchildren were very blessed to have him as a father and grandfather because of his caring and giving personality.  He was honest, just, and an inspiration and wonderful example to us all.

Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday and 8:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons; David K. Durrett, William N. Webb, Kevin B. Webb, and Jason B. Webb; great-grandson, Nicholas A. Webb and grandson-in-law, Steven Pope.

In lieu of flowers—memorial/donations may be made to:  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Louisiana, 3636 S I-10 Service W. Rd., Metairie, LA  70001, or St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN

Online condolences may be sent to www.hixson-ducote.com.